A Freewrite Interview with Writer, Editor, and Creator, Darcy Dillon
Freewrite by Darcy Dillon
This week, Mulberry is publishing a different approach to the classic interview: the freewrite response. With questions prompted by me, my good friend and fellow Mulberry editor, Darcy Dillon, talks about their writing and why they create.
If there’s one thing that I learned while earning my writing degree, it’s that everybody faces barriers when it comes to pursuing art. For some, it’s finances, time, or energy—for others it’s the social stigma that comes with declaring yourself to be an “artist” or a “writer.” I’ve had people look at me sideways, laugh, and even offer me jobs selling windows—all because they doubt the very idea of making a career out of art and writing. But here’s the thing . . .
We all love art. Every film, TV show, novel, framed painting in our homes—they’re created by artists who have dedicated their lives to their craft. Especially now, art encompasses nearly every genre from entertainment to statements of self-actualization. It continues to thrive as the vessel through which we can convey the inner workings of our minds to others in a world designed to tear us down.
There’s always the added challenge of trying to stay true to yourself amidst all of the chaos. Despite being an artist myself, I struggle with this. Opening up and being vulnerable in my work is a skill that I am constantly working on. Everything is subject to over-analysis: does this line sound cliche? Does this even sound like Darcy? Is this pretentious to say?
When I began my creative studies, I was strictly a fiction writer; I could write for days without having to confront any of those feelings of introspection. If I didn’t have to be Darcy, I didn’t want to be Darcy; I would become someone—anyone—else while weaving my stories. It wasn’t until after I finished writing my short story, “Kited,” that I heard all of the heartfelt story interpretations from my peers, and realized that I was never truly escaping my own experiences. I had just tried to hide my personal connections to my stories behind walls of prose. So, I began shifting my focus to poetry, instead, where my professors would not let me wiggle away from the intimacies of my life.
I had to confront my painful memories. I had to confront my personal conflicts, even though I was afraid (and still am) that the axe will fall on my neck for that. Because of that, one of my goals is to foster creative spaces for art and writing that encourage self-exploration in ways that are gratifying. Working together, we can break down the stigma surrounding art, and allow for creative expression to become an integrated part of how we contribute to society. Volunteering for Mulberry Literary is just one of the ways that I plan on acting on that goal in the long term.
I wasn’t sure if this was going to be a one-off zine or a long-term project when I first sent my poetry to the Mulberry Editors back in 2020 for Issue One. I knew Katie from the hours we’d spent together with our friend group, The Unofficial Official Vintage Society of Columbia, as we called ourselves—which was mostly us critiquing our work and snacking together between classes. But I had no idea that less than a year after Issue One’s publication, I would be invited into the editor’s seat.
As such, I wanted to give a huge thank you to each and every one of you who have been supporting Mulberry Literary over the past year and a half! Every submission sent, story read, like, share, comment has been so uplifting during these crazy times—we’re trying to keep the creative spirit alive, but we couldn’t do it without you!
Darcy Dillon (they/she) is a graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a BA in Creative Writing and a minor in Professional Writing. They previously worked as a junior editor for the Columbia Poetry Review and are currently arranging several chapbooks and anthologies to be independently published. They mostly spend their time juggling projects as a freelance artist, writer, and editor. Their work has appeared in Flare Journal, Hair Trigger Magazine, and right here at Mulberry Literary, prior to taking up an editorial role.